Microbial Quality of the Lake Inside Thiruvananthapuram Zoological Garden, Kerala, India.

ABSTRACT

A study of the microbial water quality of the lentic body inside Thiruvananthapuram Zoological Garden was carried out. The water in the lake is used for cleaning the cages of the zoo animals and for their bath. Total viable count, coli form count and E.coli count for the water found was exceeding the limits as prescribed by WHO and CPCB. Prevalence of indicator bacteria like Escherichia coli was observed during the study period. Isolation of Staphylococcus sp and Pseudomonas sp was done and are identified and confirmed biochemically. Klebsiella oxytoca and Enterobacter cloacae were identified by the sequencing of 16S rRNA and COI genes. The sequence and phylogenetic similarity search done with all entries in the DNA sequence database, GenBank using BLAST and identified. Bacterial results hint towards the pollution status of the water body. Bacterial count studies showed a higher number of bacterial colonies present in the water during the Monsoon Period. The animals under capture are more sensitive to diseases than in wild. A regular monitoring of the water is needed to check water borne diseases.